HELLRAISER: BLOODLINE (1996)

The film opens on a space station in the year 2127. There's only one dude, Paul Merchant, on the station and he's using a remote controlled robot to open up The Lament Configuration. He's doing this in order to call up Pinhead and then destroy him with his specially made trap. Right as this is about to happen some military dudes bust in and take him prisoner. During his interview he warns them that Pinhead is loose on the ship and tells them his backstory about how back 400 years ago a relative of his innocently created the box for this secretly evil dude who conjured forth the demon Angelique who is a buddy of Pinhead. Evil shit happens and blood is splattered all over the joint. Fast-forward to 1996 and another guy in Merchant's bloodline was an architect who designed the building seen at the end of Part 3. Angelique pieces together that this is where the cube is (remember the concrete at the end of 3?). This sets off a chain of events where it's the architect dude versus Pinhead, Angelique and their dog. Back in 2127, the army guys are quickly killed off by the Pinhead gang, so now it's up to Merchant to kill Pinhead once and for all...or whatever.

One refreshing thing about the HELLRAISER series is you never know what you're gonna get. I remember seeing HELLRAISER: BLOODLINE at the theater on opening day at the very first morning showing and being confused during the opening scene...a space station! What the fuck? But then when the story set in I really got into it and even bought that poster above. I still have it. I was so young that I even remember getting scared. Haha. Watching it again now, it's pretty dated and not scary at all, but still a fun ride. Pinhead talks a lot, Angelique is pretty awesome, the Chatter Dog is cool and the story is so out there you can't help but pay attention. It would've been nice if there had been more nudity, gore and a higher budget, but hey whatever. For a mid-90's horror flick I think H:B is a good movie and a nice addition to the HELLRAISER series. Definitely worth watching if you're a fan.

Also, according to IMDb Kenneth Tobey is listed as "Hologram-Priest (uncredited)" but I didn't see him.

Part 1 - Hellraiser (1987)
Part 2 - Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988)
Part 3 - Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth (1992)
Part 5 - Hellraiser: Inferno (2000)
Part 6 - Hellraiser: Hellseeker (2002)
Part 7 - Hellraiser: Deader (2005)
Part 8 - Hellraiser: Hellworld (2005)
Part 9 - Hellraiser: Revelations (2011)
Part 10 - Hellraiser: Judgement (2018)
Remake - Hellraiser (2022)

HELLRAISER III: HELL ON EARTH (1992)

Ohh shit...Pinhead's back! And tis time he done brought an early 90's fake Goth chick with him! As you remember at the end of Part 2, Pinhead was defeated by the Channard cenobite and trapped in the Pillar of Souls statue. Fast-forward to 1992 and a dance club owner buys the piece to decorate his living quarters located above the club. Blood gets splashed on the statue and Boom! Pinhead busts out!  Then he goes downstairs to get his freak on and spill some blood on the dance floor.  After the dance floor massacre a news reporter along with her female Goth sidekick are on the case. And what they find is...Hell on Earth.

I like HELLRAISER III. The story could have been better, but it's a fun trip back down early 90's horror memory lane. Gigantic cell phone, a CD cenobite, 90's rock club with go-go dancers, chicks with the sides of their head shaved short, flannel, weak special effects, acceptable screen time for Pinhead, some Pinhead backstory, blasphemy, blood, minor gore, funny 90's fashions. Modern audiences might not care for it, but true HELLRAISER fans will enjoy it.

If you need me I'll be in my room watching the uncut blu-ray.

Part 1 - Hellraiser (1987)
Part 2 - Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988)
Part 4 - Hellraiser: Bloodline (1996)
Part 5 - Hellraiser: Inferno (2000)
Part 6 - Hellraiser: Hellseeker (2002)
Part 7 - Hellraiser: Deader (2005)
Part 8 - Hellraiser: Hellworld (2005)
Part 9 - Hellraiser: Revelations (2011)
Part 10 - Hellraiser: Judgement (2018)
Remake - Hellraiser (2022)